Jun 12, 2023

Racing Preview - Weds 14 June 2023

Despite having top weight of 12-0 to carry, Light N Strike can follow up his Warwick win last month and land Newton Abbot’s feature £25,000 Peninsula Finance PLC Handicap Chase for trainer Emma Lavelle.

Bidding for his fifth win over fences, Light N Strike faces six opponents including Clear The Runway, already a five-time chasing winner, who made mistakes when unplaced at Cheltenham last October and has not been since since. Magic Saint, trained by Paul Nicholls, was a beaten favourite in a hunter chase at Stratford 12 days ago and Geromino, who makes the trip down from Donald McCain’s Cheshire stable, has to overcome a disappointing run at Kelso,

The seven-race card gets underway at 2.00pm with the newtonabbotracing.com Novices’ Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles. Carrying top weight is Milanford, owned by Syd Hosie who trains his own horses in Dorset but, interestingly, has sent this one to be trained by Max Young in Worcestershire. Pulled up behind Pottlerath at Worcester last month, Milanford has won just one point-to-point in twenty career starts and looks to have a tough task against the likes of Southwell hurdle winner Tommydan, who races from a 5lb lower mark on his return to fences, and Heneryetta Bay, who won a small race at Huntingdon last time.

Komedy Kicks is in good form, having won two of her three races this season and, with Harry Cobden on board, can land the Talk Tidy Marketing Mares’ Handicap Hurdle over two and a quarter miles. Magical Maggie is another in form, but has been raised 2lbs for her most recent win at Cartmel, and Tibbie Dunbar, the mount of leading jockey Sean Bowen, is lightly-raced over hurdles, but was a good second on the flat at Goodwood last month.

The run of Komedy Kicks will give a clue as the chances of Myristica in the Newton Abbot Racecourse On Facebook Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Trained by David Pipe, Myristica was beaten a head by Komedy Kicks at Worcester, giving the winner 6lbs, before running out a wide-margin winner at Southwell three weeks ago.

Fanzio, trained by Laura Hurley, has to give weight to five opponents in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap Chase. He has been a useful horse in his day, but was particularly disappointing at Warwick last month when tailing off behind Stumps Or Slips and is only 1lb lower here. The consistent Opening Bid has been raised 4lbs for his win at Worcester to his highest chase mark of 104, but is still well in compared to his hurdles rating, and Princess Midnight, who tried to make all the running when caught by Admiral’s Sunset at Stratford, could be the one to step up and take this.

The largest field of the day lines up for the Peninsula Finance PLC Handicap Hurdle and top-weight Kolisi, having his second run after wind surgery, could make it a double on the afternoon for Pipe, before Buck Of Maine is taken to build on his Plumpton debut in the closing newtonabbotracing.com Open National Hunt Flat Race.

Tickets for Wednesday’s racing at Newton Abbot Racecourse are on sale now. Book Paddock Enclosure tickets in advance to save £2 per ticket – BOOK NEWTON ABBOT RACECOURSE TICKETS